The Trump administration has abruptly suspended all US worker visas for commercial truck drivers after a fatal crash involving an Indian national staying illegally in the country sparked outrage.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on X, citing safety risks posed by foreign drivers operating heavy trucks and the threat to American truckers’ livelihoods.
The move followed the arrest of Harjinder Singh, an undocumented Indian immigrant accused of causing a Florida highway crash that killed three people during an illegal U-turn. Singh, who had failed an English exam, was extradited from California on Thursday under the supervision of Florida Lt. Governor Jay Collins and immigration officials.
The case has gained political traction, with Trump’s Republican allies highlighting immigration lapses, while California’s Democratic administration countered that Singh’s work permit was issued by the federal government.
Indian-origin truckers, particularly from the Sikh community, have become a growing part of the US trucking industry, filling shortages amid rising freight demand. Foreign-born drivers now account for 18% of the sector, with many concentrated in California.
Industry groups warn the visa freeze could worsen the shortage of nearly 24,000 truck drivers, costing the freight sector about $95 million weekly in undelivered goods.
